TIME-TO-SEE-72
All four boys followed the path that wound its way from the back of the Castle up to the crest of a little hill where the tennis courts were laid out among flowering shrubs, tall willow shade trees, and lovely green grass.
Out in the middle of one of the courts Ian was setting up some kind of odd-looking machine. The boys stood by while Ian triggered the machine which began shooting tennis balls across the net like a tiny military cannon.
"Alright, guys, go over to the other side of the net and pick up a racket. I'll be right there to show you how to grip it, as soon as I adjust the speed on this machine," and Ian turned back to the device that was spitting out tennis balls much too rapidly...
"There. That's better," Ian said when he had achieved a pause of 15 seconds or so between each ball.
Then looking at the boys, "Now watch me hold my racket... Notice that I'm not holding it like a club. I'm not going to beat up anyone. I'm using a hand-shake grip... Everyone see?"
Each boy executed his own unique version of Ian's regulation tennis racket grip, and after Ian gave a little adjustment to each one individually, he told them to form a queue.
"Now when you're at the head of the queue, come out into the middle of the court and wait for the machine to shoot a tennis ball over the net to you. You will first try hitting the ball back over the net using an overhand swing. Watch me."
And Ian ran over to the machine; turned on the switch; and then ran back to the other side of the net with the boys. He positioned himself right in front of the machine and waited for the first ball...
"Bong! Sock..." the first ball flew over the net.
Ian ran up on it and swatted it with a strong over-hand swing, sending the ball back to the other side of the net.
"There. You get the idea?" Ian yelled to the boys.
"Bong! Sock..." and another tennis ball soared over the net. This one Ian backed up a bit and returned to the other side using a back-hand stroke.
"I'm not expecting you to master anything except a good, firm over-hand... Let's give it a try... YOU, Murph! You run out and return the next five balls. Then go to the end of the queue. And so on... READY? I'll start the machine again..."
"Bong! Sock..." and Murph ran up to meet the in-coming ball only to meet it with much too little force sending the ball, "plop..." down on to the court but not over the net.
"Try it again, Murph," Ian yelled. "Don't worry about the ones that don't go right. You'll get the hang of it after a few trys..."
"Bong! Sock..." and Murph addressed this next ball with considerable determination, slugging it for all he was worth. The ball changed course when it met Murph's racket and returned to the opposite side of the net not far from the machine that shot it.
"Very good! Murph... Now do three more" Ian called out to Murph.
Murph managed to return all three of the remaining balls in his turn. When he connected with the fifth ball, he was wobbling a bit since he was not used to responding with such strength...
Sean was next in line, and he ran up on the next ball...
"Bong! Sock." the machine delivered.
Sean returned his ball with a crashing overhand swing. The ball reversed directions and soared back over the net from which it came and landed at the very back of the court.
"Now that was a terrific return, Sean, but you'll have to direct the ball to hit the court in front of that white line at the back. Your return was strong but outside, or out of bounds.... Try the next one..."
"Bong! Sock." the machine sent Sean another tennis ball.
This time Sean ran up to connect with the ball but directed his shot down somewhat, sending the ball back across the net and sitting it down on the court inside the boundaries painted on the court.
"Very good! Sean" Ian called..." Work on directing your shots... Try to make some long, to the back of the court. And make others short, just over the net if you can," Ian instructed.
And Sean took command of the court. He bounced on his feet while waiting for the machine to send him the next ball. When it did deliver the next ball, Sean sent it crashing down again just inside of the court boundaries, but tucked over in one corner, making it a very difficult ball for an opposing player to return.
No doubt about it. Sean was a natural. He displayed the strength to meet an incoming ball and the sense of control needed to direct it as he wished.
"Great, Sean... Okay, Jilder... You going to give it a try?" Ian called out.
"Uh! Ian.. I'm just not going to be able to hit the ball very hard, because it will hurt my chest if I swing that hard. Remember, I got a steel bar in me." but Jilder positioned himself in the center of the court.
When the machine delivered the next ball, "Bong! Sock." Jilder started to move his racket, then stopped in mid-swing...
"Ohhhhh! I can't do it, Ian... It hurts..." and Jilder doubled over and went over to the edge of the court.
Ian ran up to him cradling him in his arms to support him..."Have you hurt yourself, Jilder?... This is not worth doing that..." Ian spoke with great concern.
"No. Not bad. I just realized that if I really pushed myself, I'd really feel the pain from the bar inside me; so I stopped," Jilder said.
"That was very smart, Jilder. I wouldn't have suggested that you get in the queue if I'd realized how the bar would restrict you... Don't worry at all, Jilder. When you do get the bar taken out, you can always learn how to play tennis. Please don't feel like you've failed or anything... You understand exactly what I was showing you, and I'm sure you'll do fine when you are ready..." Ian said.
"Yeah! I can't do that either," Nicky said. I know how much that hurts; so I'm not going to try," Nicky said.
"Well, you guys can watch while Murph and Sean practice a bit. And you'll be all rested up when it's time to go out on the lake... Don't forget," Ian reminded them, "We're all going out after that Silver Swan when we finish here. I know you can do that without any problems..." Ian said encouraging the two boys with the anticipation of their next activity.
Nicky and Jilder sat on the asphalt court talking while Murph and Sean practiced vollying tennis balls with the serving machine. After a while, Nicky noticed that another boy had approached, standing outside of the 20 foot-high fence that surrounded the court. The boy was at some distance; so it wasn't possible to see him very clearly.
Finally, Nicky got up to walk around the court and then outside of the fence to say 'Hi' to the outsider. When he got quite close to the boy, he was able to see him clearly, and Nicky was very disturbed at what he saw.
The boy was about his size, and probably about his age, but it was impossible to discern any details because the boy was hideously disfigured.
Nicky spoke first,"Hi!" not knowing what else to do.
"Hi!" the boy replied
"You stayin at the Castle?" Nicky asked.
"Yes. I be staying here with me mum and dad," the boy answered.
"I am too," Nicky said..."Uh! I mean, we're all staying here, me and Jilder and Sean and Murph," Nicky said gesturing to the boys playing tennis on the tennis court inside the fense.
"Yes. It looks like a great fun. Why aren't you hitting the balls too?" the boy asked.
"Well, I can't because I have this steel bar that the doctors put in my chest. And that keeps me from moving my arms without it hurting," Nicky explained.
"Oh. That's too bad," the boy responded..."Do you have to have the bar inside of you forever?"
"Uh... no, not forever, but-- according to the doctors-- maybe for two years, " Nicky shared.
"I'd like to play tennis too, but I can't because I got burned in a car accident, and it burned almost my whole body-- 85%. My skin doesn't stretch, and I can't sweat, because the scar stuff doesn't work like my old skin," the boy explained. "You see, and it makes me look like a monster," he added.
The boy hung his head and turned the most damaged side of his face away from Nicky.
"That's okay. You can't help that. Besides, you don't look that bad, maybe a little different," Nicky replied with great kindness.
"Yeah!" the boy said dejectedly, "But it scares people away, and they don't want to talk to me..."
"Really?" "That sounds really bad. Don't you have to go to school?" Nicky asked out of curiosity.
"I used to go to school, but I haven't been in about two years... I had to be in the burn hospital in the United States for over a year," the boy said.
"Oh, I'm from the United States, and I was in a hospital near San Diego-- that's in California. That's where they put the steel bar in my chest," Nicky volunteered.
"I was in a burn hospital in California too. The hospital is in Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley part," the boy explained.
"Oh, that's close to San Diego! It's like we were neighbors and didn't know it," Nicky said with a smile.
The boy smiled too, but his face contorted in such a way as to conceal the true joy he felt at discovering that Nicky didn't mind that they shared something in common with one another.
"I didn't know that," the boy said.
"Say, what's your name? I'm Nicky"
"My name is Arthur Donally, but everybody calls me Artie," the boy replied.
"Oh, okay, Artie. You wanna come inside the court and meet my brother and our friends?"
"I'm not sure that they would want to talk to me.... " Artie said with his eyes cast down. "...the way I look and all..."
"Well, why don't we go inside and see. I like you; I can't see why they wouldn't like you too," Nicky said in all honesty.
"You don't have to do this," Artie said.
"Do what?" Nicky asked.
"Take me with you to be with your friends. They might not want to be around me, you know...," Artie said.
"Well, maybe... And maybe they won't care about how you look... How are you going to know unless you go with me... One thing I can be sure of: they won't hurt you, Artie. I know them all really well, and I know they won't say bad things to hurt you..."
Artie wasn't at all sure that what Nicky said could be true, but he liked his new friend enough that he trusted Nicky to help him meet the other boys.
So together Nicky and Artie walked around the fense and entered the court at the end nearest Jilder.
When Nicky walked up with Artie, Jilder looked at Artie and then at Nicky, too shocked to speak.
Nicky spoke first, "Jilder, this is Artie. He used to be in a hospital in Los Angeles, not far from the San Diego hospital we were in."
Jilder got up from where he was sitting and spoke the first thing that came into his mind, "Yeah. I have a steel bar in my chest. Why were you in the hospital?" Jilder asked.
"I was in a car accident, and I got burned really bad all over. You can see that, I know..." Artie said turning to look at Nicky; so that he didn't have to find out how Jilder was receiving his appearance. "I had to be in the burn hospital for over a year," Artie said still not looking at Jilder,
"Wow!" Jilder commented... "That's a long time... Are you okay now?" Jilder asked.
"Well, pretty much. I have to do lots of special things to take care of myself, but I don't have to go back in the hospital, I don't think..." Artie replied.
"Oh! You're lucky. We have to go back in about two years and let the doctors take the steel bars out. That means another surgery," Jilder said.
"Oh. I've had 55 surgeries," Artie replied.
Both Jilder and Nicky looked at each other speechless, finding it incredible that Artie had had 55 surgeries. That seemed inconceivable.
"Really? 55?" Jilder said.
"Yep. I really didn't count em, but that's what me mum tells me..." Artie said.
Jilder looked at Nicky and then back at Artie, "Yeah, that's really a lot."
"Yes, it is. But I didn't have any skin on me at all; so the doctors had to move good skin from one place on me to another. Finally, they got me covered in skin-- well, mostly. I have a lot of what's called scar tissue too," Artie explained.
"Gosh... " Jilder responded, too over-whelmed with the awful burden he realized Artie had to carry to say more.
"Well, Nicky and me can't play tennis; so's we're just talkin. You wanna sit with us and watch?" Jilder offered.
"Yes. Can we sit in the shade? My skin doesn't do very good in the sunlight. It burns easy," Artie replied.
"Oh, sure. Let's sit over there under the tree," Jilder suggested.
So the three boys went across the court and sat in a shaded spot. Nicky leaned up against the fense. Artie and Jilder sat cross-legged opposite him.
"My name is Jilder," Jilder said. "What's yours?"
"My friends call me Artie, but my name is Arthur," Artie answered.
"Cool," Jilder replied, nodding his head positively.
There was a pause that was a little uncomfortable for all three boys, but considering that they had just met each other, actually, Nicky decided it was not that unusual.
Nicky and Jilder DID feel a sort of kinship with Artie, given that they all had life-threatening medical conditions that put them in the hospital. Nick and Jilder were just fortunate that their disorders were not nearly so visible as Artie's.
Jilder looked over at Artie: "Did you know that the king who used to live here in Castle Dromoland, over a thousand years ago, still has his ghost staying in a cave?"
"Huh? Did you say ghost?" Artie responded.
"Yeah. The King is named Brian Boru, and he was killed a really long time ago when he was in a war. Somebody killed him while he was praying!" Jilder lectured.
"Ooou! That's awful!" Artie said.
"Yeah. But some people have seen the ghost, and they wrote about it on the internet. I read it on-line myself just a few nights ago."
"Does King Boru walk around the Castle at night?" Artie asked.
"No. I don't think so. The internet said that he lives in a grotto-- that's a cave-- and that if you go to the grotto, you can see him."
"Do you believe that?" Artie asked Jilder.
"Well.... sort-a.... Yeah! Mostly. I think there is such a thing as ghosts, but they don't go around people very much..." Jilder replied.
"I'm not sure I believe in ghosts," Artie said.
"That's okay... I don't think many people do. But since we're staying here at the Castle, I want to go to the grotto and see for myself," Jilder admitted.
"Do you know where the grotto is?" Artie asked.
"Uh... nooo-- BUT Ian, the guy who is teaching tennis, said that the Silver Swan that we saw on the lake in front of the castle knows where the cave is, and she will lead us there. All we have to do is follow her in Ian's boat."
"When are you going in the boat?" Artie asked, indicating that somewhere in him a curiosity was piqued, and that he too would like to pursue the ghost... "Maybe King Boru's ghost DID live around here?" Artie thought.
"Ian said that after we go for tennis lessons this morning, he would get a boat with a little motor on it and take us out on the lake." Jilder said.
After a moment, it occured to Jilder that he might have found yet another ally in the search for King Boru. "Would you like to go in the boat with us, after Sean and Murph finish with the tennis lessons?"
Artie could hardly believe his ears. Someone wanted him to go with them on a boat ride. "Yes. That would be really nice. But I'll have to ask me mum and daddy whether I can go. They watch what I do very closely..." Artie said.
"Sure. I understand," Jilder answered. "Can you go find them right now, and then, maybe right after we eat lunch, we'll all go with Ian out on the lake. I saw the Silver Swan out there this morning. She knows where the ghost is, and she will lead us all to him..." Jilder repeated himself a bit.
"Yes. I'll go ask them right now. Where will you be? I mean, what room are you staying in?" Artie asked.
"Humm?" Jilder looked to Nicky and asked, "Where are we staying, Nick?"
Nicky said, "I really don't know the address, but Murph's dad is Max Murphy, and he fixed the reservations for our two dads and us. And last night, me and Jilder spent the night with Sean and Murph; so I guess you can just ask the desk conciergie where we are... He knows our names... Just tell him you're looking for Nicky and Jilder... He knows."
"Okay..." Artie answered... And then he paused, allowing some more thoughts to circuit through his mind.
He looked over at Nicky again and asked, "Nicky, do you think Sean and Murph will mind me going with them in the boat... You know... the way I look and all?"
Nicky said, "I don't know... But I don't THINK so. If you'd feel better, maybe you ought to meet them first, and THEN, if you think they're okay with it, then you can go ask your parents."
"Yeah. Maybe I better do that," Artie answered, not willing to put himself out there too far, lest he encounter his worst fear: rejection because he looks bad.
So the boys continued to watch the tennis match. Murph and Sean versus THE MACHINE.
"Who's winning?" Jilder yelled out to Sean "YOU or THE MACHINE?"
"Alright, smartie pants..." Sean called back to Jilder. "Of course, I'M WINNING!" he replied with a big, self-confident smile on his face.
"That machine is hard to beat," Murph called out. "It never gets tired; so it can play until you wear out and stop cause you're tired..."
Ian over-hearing the conversation interjected from across the net, "Sure, boys, but you're only learning and practicing now. Maybe on another day we'll get a game going... I'll play each of you after you've practiced some more."
And continuing, Ian said, "I see that it's been over an hour since we started; so maybe we ought to break for lunch."
"Are we still going out on the lake to follow the Silver Swan?" Ian asked the boys out loud.
"SURE!" Jilder answered loudly for the entire group.
"That's good. Just wanted to check to see if there were any last minute changes of plans... Okay. So how about you all meet me at one o'clock out at the dock. I'll have the motor installed on the larger boat," Ian said.
Nicky asked, "Ian. Is it alright if we invited another person to go with us? We met Artie who's staying at the Castle too, and he would like to go with us."
"Why that would be a wonderful idea. First, however, I'll have to speak with Artie's mum and dad to see whether they approve of his going out in a boat. But I can do that before one o'clock, I think," Ian answered.
Artie sat there saying nothing but feeling like everyone was looking at him. That was not entirely true. Everyone was spread out around the very large tennis court, talking quite loudly.
In a while, after Ian turned the machine off, Murph and Sean came running over to the shady spot where Nicky, Jilder, and Artie all sat together.
When Sean and Murph got close, they realized for the first time that the new boy was grossly disfigured, and they each stopped speechless.
Only the chorteling of geese filled the Silence.
Nicky stepped into the awkwardness and proceeded to act normally, "Artie, these are our two friends, Murph (and Nicky pointed to Murph) and his brother Sean.
Both boys nodded, but neither said hello. They just stood there.
After a very long moment, Jilder said to Murph and Sean, with some level of impatience, "Well don't just stand there. Say somethin..."
"Uh. Yeah" Sean spoke first. "I'm really sorry, Artie, I was just surprised that you've been hurt, and I've never seen that sort of thing before."
Artie looked at Nicky and although his marred facial features concealed his feelings, nothing could conceal the tears that flowed freely from his eyes, and he stood up and began walking away slowly...
"No. Don't go! Please, Artie," Sean called out. "I am being terribly rude and very ugly to you... I'm really sorry. Please, Artie, I'm sorry, please don't go away."
Artie stopped in his steps, but with his back to the boys and his hands now up covering his face. Not looking at them he spoke loudly through his tears, "I know I look like a monster... I know nobody wants to look at me... I wish I was dead!" And he started to hurry away...
Sean paniced. He didn't move for an instant not knowing what to do..
"No. No... Artie," Sean called out again running after Artie and stopping him by stepping in front of him. "Please. Artie. I'm sorry I was so rude. You haven't done anything to make yourself a monster... You just got hurt; that's all. And people like me just got to grow up and learn how to act."
Artie had stopped in his flight. He was standing on the court crying his heart out, hiding his face in his hands.
Sean stepped around in front of Artie and put one hand on each of Artie's shoulders and pulled Artie into his arms.
Artie didn't resist or attempt to bolt and run further, he just dissolved into tears that could only have been matched by Sean himself, re-living that terrible night of carnage in his life not so long ago.
"That's okay, Artie. I understand," Sean said softly. And he continued to cradle Artie in his arms, trying to ease the pain he knew coarsed through Artie's heart. "It's okay," he whispered again in Artie's ear. "It's okay..."
And all the boys stood there silently waiting for Artie.
Sean rubbed Artie's back, and in a minute or two, Artie's tears began to subside. He continued to hide his face in his hands, but the heaving and desolation dissolved into a quiet peace.
"Would you like to go with us out in the boat after lunch, Artie?" Sean asked quietly...
After a moment, Artie replied softly, "I'd really like that."
"Well then, you better go find your parents and ask if you have their permission, because Ian has to have our parent's permission."
For the first time, Artie looked into Sean's eyes and realized the comfort and love that lie there just for him. "Thank you, Sean." And Sean understood what Artie was thanking him for...
"And thank you for inviting me to go with you in the boat," Artie added.
"Sure. We'd like to have somebody else with us. Do you believe in ghosts?" Sean said patting Artie on the back and laughing just a little... "Well, "SOME" people here do..."
Artie understood that Sean was referring to Jilder, and he appreciated the light hearted reference to something else besides his own cares.
"I don't know about BELIEVING IN ghosts, but LOOKING for where they might be sounds like fun," Artie replied.
"Good." Sean replied... Then he turned to Murph and said, "Murph I'd like you to meet, Artie. He's going ghost hunting with us in the boat..."
Murph stepped up to Artie and Sean, smiled, and offered his hand to shake saying, "We could use somebody else who wants too look for King Boru's ghost."
And Artie was happy that Murph accepted him too. Seems like there wouldn't be anyone who didn't want him there.
"Now I've got to get back to our room, Artie. I brought my dog, Spirit, with me, and he's just a puppy; so I have to get back and feed him. Do you wanna see him?" Sean said.
"You brought your DOG with you?" Artie asked finding the idea just a bit incredible.
"Yes. Of course, he's too little to stay home with just a sitter. I have to feed him a bottle every two hours or so... Maybe you'd like to feed him his lunch?" Sean suggested.
"Yeah! That would be very nice." Artie confessed.
Sean addressed all of the guys, "Okay. Let's go back to the Castle and get lunch. Artie and I will go feed Spirit, but Artie will have to find his parents too, and get them to tell Ian it's okay for him to go with us in the boat."
So all of the boys headed back to the castle swinging tennis rackets, goofing off, and dawdling as they walked along the path together. Sean and Artie walked side by side.
Nicky came up to Artie and whispered, "See, Artie. I didn't think anybody would want you to stay away... And Sean didn't mean to say something bad, he's a good person... I think he really likes you too..."
Artie's face could convey a smile, even if it were a bit crooked. The smile made him feel wonderful... or was it that he felt wonderful; so he smiled warmly????